Remote starting control for internal-combustion engines



April 1, 1952 J. w. SCHAEFFER 2,591,618

REMOTE STARTING CONTROL FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 14, 1949 l3 JACK W. SCHAEFFER Patented Apr. 1, 1952 REMOTE STARTING CONTROL FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Jack W. Schaefier, Youngstown, Ohio Application February 14, 1949, Serial No. 76,291

'4 Claims. (01. 290-37) This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to apparatus for starting the engine of the vehicle from a remote location. Thus, the invention seeks to provide a practical arrangement whereby the engine of a motor vehicle may be started while the vehicle is out-' side or in a garage, for example, by manipulation of a switch, for example, positioned inside an adjacent dwelling or other building, for example. The invention is particularly applicable in the operation of motor vehicles in colder climates where it is desirable to start the engine of the vehicle a considerable time in advance of the actual operation thereof to allow the engine and vehicle to warm up before it is used but it will be apparent as the description proceeds that the invention is capable of other specific uses as, for example, in connection with certain public service vehicles where it is desired to have the engines reach an efiicient operating temperature in the least possible interval of time. It is therefore the principal object of the invention to provide a practical, efficient and dependable system for starting a motor vehicle engine under remote control from a point away from the vehicle proper.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dependable and simplified remote control starting system for internal combustion engines wherein conventional and/or existing wiring may be utilized for connecting the engine with the remote starting control station. Thus, in the case of dwelling units having an'associated garage for a vehicle the conventional 110 v. power line leading from the dwelling to the garage may be employed for the purpose of my invention providing there is available or. made available in the dwelling a switch for energizing the power line when desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision Still further objects of the invention are the provision, in apparatus of the character outlined above, of an improved arrangement for de-energizing the electric starting motor upon proper starting of the engine, of an improved arrangement for preventing unauthorized starting of the engine, and of an automatic switching means wherein the vehicle and engine are conditioned for normal operation simply by disengaging from the vehicle a connector attached to the wiring leading to the remote control station and whereby the engine and vehicle are automatically conditioned for remote control starting simply by re-attaching this connector.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary assembly showing a possible method of use of the apparatus of my invention;'

Figure 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the apparatus of my invention; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a housing and connector unit which, in accordance with the invention, may house the electrical equipment required and be installed in the vehicle in the manner shown in Figure 1.

Reference numeral Ill designates a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, not shown, a steering wheel II, and a dashboard l2 positioned forwardly of the front seat of the vehicle, in accordance with usual practice. The ancillary electrical equipment required by the present invention may be housed in a box l3 which is preferably secured to the lower portion of the rear face of the dash I2 as shown in Figure 1. Extending outwardly of the box l2 and carried therewith is the male portion [4 of a four-prong electrical connector to which is adapted to be detachably secured the female part I5 of the connector. the connector part I5 is secured the conduc tors of a conventional line cord l6 which may be provided with a conventional plug IT for insertion in a utility outlet I8. The outlet 18 may be part of the lighting or power wiring in the garage space and, as such, its energization will be under the control of a switch 19 positioned inside the dwelling wall 20.

Positioned in the box l3 are the relays 2| and 22 and, as shown in Figure 2, the operating coil for the relay 2| is connected with those two prongs of the connector I4 which will be engaged by the contacts of connector l5 which are in circuit with the line cord I6. For this purpose, the actuating coil of relay 2! will be of the v.- A. C. type. The operating coil for the relay To two of the contacts of 3 22 has one of its terminals connected to the third prong of the connector M by means of conductor 23 while the other terminal of this coil is connected to a back contact 24 of relay 2| and to a conductor 25 leading out of the box l3.

In accordance with usual practice, the vehicle to which the present invention will be applied will be provided with a storage battery 26, a starting motor 21, a generator 28 with conventional cut-out relay 44, a relay 29 for energizing the starting motor from the battery, an ignition coil 30, and an ignition switch 3 Also on the vehicle is a starter switch 32 and it will be observed from the wiring diagram of Figure 2 that upon closure of the switch 32 the relay 29 will be energized to energize motor 27 from the battery through conductor 33. Current for the ignition coil 30 is furnished by the conductor 34 and is normally controlled by the switch 3|. In accordance with the present invention I provide separate circuit means in parallel with the switches 3| and 32 to automatically perform the functions thereof upon closure of the switch I!) and the subsequent energization of the outlet l8. Such parallel circuit arrangements will now be described in detail.

Relay 2| is provided with a pair of front contacts 35 which when closed upon energization of the said relay connect the conductor 34 to the coil 30 through the conductor 36. Therefore, upon the connector part l being applied to the connector part I4 and energization of the line cord l5 the ignition system'of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is energized even though the switch 3| remains open. The relay 22 is provided with a pair of back contacts 31 which, when closed, connect the conductor 34 with the coil of relay 29 by means of the circuit comprised of the conductor 34, the front contacts 35 of relay 2|, conductor 38, back contacts 31, conductor 39, coil of relay 29, and ground. Therefore, upon the connector part l5 being applied to part I 4 and energization of the line It the relay 29 is energized simultaneously with energization of the ignition system to energize the starter motor 21. Since it is necessary to discontinue the energization of the motor 21 after the engine starts the output of the generator 28 is utilized to energize the relay 22 whereby the parallel energizing circuit for the relay 29 comprised of the conductor 39 is opened. It will be observed that one of the, terminals of the generator 28 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery through conductor 49 while the other output terminal of the generator-is connected through conductor 25 to one of the back contacts 24 of relay 2| and to the operating coil of relay 22 and thence to the third prong of the connector l4 through conductor 23, as explained above. The fourth prong of connector I4 is connected to the other of the back contacts 24 of the relay 2| through conductor 4| and also to ground through conductor 42. The contacts on connector part I5 which engage the third and fourth prongs of part M are permanently electrically interconnected by means of a jumper wire 43, for example. Therefore, when the part |5 is applied to the part M the conductor 23 is connected to ground and the coil of relay 22 is eifectively in the output circuit of the generator 28 so that upon the engine starting and the generator delivering appreciable current the armature of relay 22 will be pulled in to open the back contacts 31, thus de-energizing relay 29 to de-energize motor 2?. Before the engine starts and develops speed the conventional reverse current cut-out 44 for generator 28 keeps 4 w open the battery circuit through the generator, as is well known, so that the conductor 25 and consequently the coil of relay 22 remains de-energized until the engine starts properly. The back contacts 24 of relay 2| and circuit connections thereto are provided to establish a normal generator-battery charging circuit (completed through conductor 4|) which operates when part I5 is disconnected or line It is de-energized and relay 2| is de-energized.

In normal operation of the vehicle on which the system of the present invention is installed, the connector member |5 will be detached from the box l3 and can be simply allowed to hang from the outlet l8. The vehicle can then be controlled and driven in the usual manner, using the conventional ignition switch 3| and the starter switch 32. Upon the vehicle being parked in its arage space the line cord It may be threaded through an open window of the vehicle and the connector |5 applied to the connector |4. At this time the outlet I8 will be de-energized and the control will remain inactive but operative to start the engine immediately upon energization of the outlet |8 even though the switch 3| is key-locked. Thus, at any subsequent time the owner of the vehicle can start the engine by turning on the switch H! which, as stated above, may be positioned inside an associated dwelling. Energization of the outlet I8 and consequently of the cord |6 pulls in relay 2| which closes contacts and through the closed back contacts 31 of the relay 22 the relay 29 is energized to switch current from-the battery to the starting motor 21. Energization of relay 2| also furnishes operating current to the vehicle ignition system in parallel or by-passing relation to the switch 3|. When the engine starts the output of the generator 28 energizes relay 22 to tie-energize the starting motor relay 29 and the engine continues its normal running with. both relays 2| and 22 held energized. Upon the owner or operator assuming his driving position behind the wheel I I he merely unlocks and closes the conventional ignition switch 3| after which the conector I5 is pulled away from the connector l4 and the engine will remain running. in its normal fashion. The connector l5 and cord l6 are simply passed out the open vehicle window and the vehicle driven away.

It will be obvious that the control apparatus is easily installed in a conventional motor vehicle and in preferred practice the box l3 will have extending from it, in addition to the connector i4,

four flexible conductor leads, one of which, as 34, is connected to. the positive side of the battery through any available and convenient terminal. The other leads are conductor 36 which is connected to the ignition coil, the conductor 25 which is connected to an output terminal of the generator, and the conductor 39 which may be connected to one of the contacts of the switch 32. This arrangement makes for ease of installation.

Since many changes may be made in the apparatus of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention reference should be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a starting system for a vehicle engine hav ing a starting motor, a battery, a generator, an ignition circuit, conductors connecting said battery and said starting motor, and a solenoid operated switching relay having contacts interposed in at least one of said conductors for controlling the flow of current from said battery to said starting motor, the combination of a quick-detachable electrical connector having one part attached to the vehicle and the other part attached to a line cord, a line conductor interconnecting said line cord with a remote control station, said control station including means to furnish electrical energy to said line cord and connector, a second solenoid operated switching relay carried on said vehicle having an energizing circuit leading from said connector part attached to the vehicle, an energizing circuit on said vehicle for said first mentioned relay including control contacts carried by said second mentioned relay to be closed upon energization thereof to thus energize the first mentioned relay and cause starting current to flow to said starting motor, and means electrically connected to said generator and having normally closed switching contacts interposed in the energizing circuit of said first mentioned relay, said means being operative in response to a predetermined output of said generator upon starting of said engine to open the energizing circuit of said first mentioned relay.

2. In a starting system for a vehicle engine having a starting motor, a battery, a generator, an ignition circuit, conductors connecting said battery and said starting motor, and a solenoid operated switching relay having contacts interposed in at least one of said conductors for con trolling the flow of current from said battery to said starting motor, all carried on the vehicle; the combination of a quick-detachable electrical connector part attached to the free end of a line cord connected with a supply source, a mating connector part carried by said vehicle, second and third relays carri d by said vehicle, said second relay having a pair of normally open contacts and said third relay having a pair of normally closed contacts, conductors connecting said second relay to said second connector part whereby said second relay may be energized by said source when said connector parts are mated, a normally-open energizing circuit for said third relay including in series said second connector part and the output circuit of said generator, means on said first connector part operative when said first and second connector parts are mated to close said energizing circuit whereby said third relay is connected in circuit with the output of said generator, conductor means connecting said battery and said ignition circuit through said normally open contacts to energize said ignition circuit upon energization of said second relay, and an energizing circuit for said first mentioned relay comprising conductor means connecting said battery and said first mentioned relay through said normally open and said normally closed contacts.

3. In a starting system for a vehicle engine having a starting motor, a battery, an ignition circuit, conductors connecting said battery and said starting motor, a solenoid operated switching relay having contacts interposed in at least one of said conductors for controlling the flow of cur rent from said battery to said starting motor, and

an energizing circuit for said relay; the combination of a quick-detachable electrical connector having a. fixed part carried by said vehicle and a movable part carried by the free end of a line cord leading from a controlled source of electrical energy, electrically operated switching means connected to said line conductor and carried by said vehicle having contacts interposed in said ignition circuit and said relay energizing circuit for energizing said circuits upon said movable and fixed parts being mated and electrical energy applied to said line conductor, and switching means having contacts interposed in said relay energizing circuit operative in response to a predetermined output of said generator caused by the starting of said engine to interrupt the energization of said relay.

4. In a remote control vehicle engine starting system of the kind wherein line conductors carrying current from a remote source are detachably connected to the vehicle and wherein the vehicle engine has an associated ignition system, starting motor, battery, conductors connecting said battery with said starting motor, and a generator having an output circuit, the combination of a first solenoid operated switching relay having an energizing circuit connected to said line conductors and having switching contacts operative when closed to connect said battery with said ignition system to energize said engine ignition system, and a second solenoid operated switching relay having an energization circuit in the output circuit of said generator; said second mentioned relay having normally closed switching contacts operative upon closing of said first mentioned contacts to control the energization of said starting motor and operative in response to energization of said second mentioned relay by said generator to deenergize said starting motor.

JACK W. SCHAEFFER.

CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,086,632 Menze Feb. 10, 1914 1,439,483 Bitter Dec. 19, 1922 1,459,726 Goodheim June 26, 1923 1,565,854 Hasselbring, Jr. Dec. 15, 1925 1,776,683 Larkin Sept. 23, 1930 1,868,203 Jordan July 19, 1932 1,941,433 Doman Dec. 26, 1933 1,965,372 Drabelle July 3, 1934 1,989,958 Waters Feb. 5, 1935 2,098,549 Luke Nov, 9, 1937 2,137,894 Elder Nov. 22, 1933 2,222,568 Newton Nov. 19, 1940 2,423,464 Moncrief July 8, 1947 2,450,904 Moncrief Oct. 12, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, June, 1915, page 831. 

